Bag



P. C. MYERS Oct. 26, 1943.

BAG

Filed July 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR Oct. 26, 1943. P. c. MYERS 2,332,808

BAG

Filed July 5, 1940 ZSheets-heet 2 AT RNEYS.

Patented Oct. 26, 1943 I UNITED STATE S TENroFrIca I BAG Phyllis Clendenny Myers, East Orange, 'N. J Application July 5, 1940, Serial. No. 344,054

' 5 Claims. (01. 150-29 This invention relates to womens handbags and aims to provide certain improvements therein, i

It is the custom among women to. provide themselves with a plurality of handbags, distinguished by color or shape, or by some other characteristic, and to change frequently from one to another. This involves a change from one bag to the other of the many small articles which women customarily carry with them. Such bags are usually provided with one or more inner pockets in which such articles as compacts, mirrors, etc., are ordinarily carried. In changing these contents to another bag, some articles are frequently overlooked and in any event the operation is one requiring some time and care.

It has been heretofore proposed to provide a single bag with a variety of detachable covers, the object being to avoid the disadvantages of changing the contents by leaving them in a single receptacle. and varying its outward appearance. Such bags, however, involve the use of more or less loose covers which are difficult to apply to the exterior of a bag in such a manner as to secure a neat appearance and one in keeping with the desires of the user.

According to the present invention, I provide an interior receptacle designed to be received by a number of different bags and to be quickly and securely attached to each on its interior in suchrmanner as to function as a liningof the usual kind. Preferably also, such receptacles areso constructed that there will be no danger of losing any of the contents during the operation of removing them from bags in which they are I temporarily placed and applying them to others; and so. that they may be easily handled when separated' from the bags. The receptacles provided are preferably made with the usual pockets and, if desired, with interior purses, so that they-may form substantial duplicates of the bag interiors as ordinarily made. Such receptacles may, of course, be applied to bagsof different shape, butv it is preferable that the bag framesbe of similar dimensions along the tops thereof in order to facilitate the quick application and removal of. the receptacles and also in order to present a smooth appearance when the bags are opened.

Various methods of applying a receptacle to the different bags may be used, although it is desirable to have a connection which will permit the secure fastening of the receptacle tov the bag while at the same time permitting its rapid detachment and attachment. While the precise shape of the receptacle need not conform to. the

interior of the bag or bags, it is desirable that. it shall be at least as deep as any of the bags with which it is combined, for the reason that; the usual contents of the bag involve metal boxes, keys and other weighty articles, such as would otherwise place a strain upon the receptacle itself or upon its connecting means withthe bag.

The receptacle may be made of any suitable material of sufficient strength, and preferably a material which will correspond reasonably with the character of linings of bags as at present manufactured. The invention also comprises a series ofbags in combination with a receptacle or receptacles and means for interchangeably securing the receptacle to each of the bags,

The drawings, wherein I have shown several forms of the invention Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of a bag provided with one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 showing the bag widely opened.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the inner receptacle removed from the bag.

Figure 4 is a plan view of an opened bag showing a modified form of frame for the inner receptacle.

Figure-5 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 5--5 in Figure ,4.

Figure 6 is a detail view taken on the line 6--B in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a plan showing a still further modification of the frame of the inner receptacle.

Figure 8 is a detail view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2, and 3, which show one form of the invention, let A indicate the flexible outer wall of the bag and B the framework 7 of the bag which usually comprises two frames, C and D. These frames are customarily pivoted at E, E so as to be capable of folding toward and from each other to close and open the bag-. The frame is connected to the open top of the outer walls of the bag in any suitable manner, such as that shown in the drawing which is well known and need not be described.

The particular material of which the flexible walls of the bag are made may be varied at will and the shape of the bag may be as desired. Any particular form of framework may also be adopted, that shown being a common rectangular form wherein both frames are U-shaped, the ends of their legs being hinged together as illustrated.

The bag is usually provided with some form of spring latch, that shown in the drawings comprising a lug, F; which is designed to be engaged by spring mounted latch member G extending the entire length of the bag.

Figure 3 shows one form of interior receptacle H provided by my invention. This is best con-' structed as a pocket of any suitable material which may be formed on its interior with smaller pockets such as I for the reception of a mirror or other articles. In general the arrangement of the interior receptacle may conform to the usual arrangement of permanent bag linings.

The interior receptacle is made of a size and shape to fit within one or more bags and to be detachably fastened to the interior thereof so that it may be opened and closed with the bag in much the same manner as though it were a permanent lining for the latter. Many different methods may be employed for such detachable connection. It is desirable however that the mode of connection shall be such as to permit repeated connections and disconnections from the bag with as little trouble as possible to the user. By this means the interior receptacle may be easily disconnected and lifted bodily from the bag with its entire contents intact and replaced in another or other bags whereby the user is assured of a complete transference of its contents from one bag to another.

According to the preferred form of invention the interior receptacle is provided along its sides with stiffening members such as J, which are preferably made of fairly, stiff yet resilient material such as thin metal or other material having the characteristics referred to. Preferably each of the stiffening members J is provided at each end with legs K, K formed integrally therewith as best seen in Figure 2, the parts forming a pair of frames of U-shape. The ends of the legs may be pivoted together but in practice this is not essential, it being sufficient to leave them disconnected as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The material of the receptacle may be passed around the frames to form hems which can be sewed to the material as shown at L in Figure 3. The rovisions of the frames J, K and particularly of the lengthwise members J permits the receptacle to be closed and held together by the two fingers as shown in Figure 3 so that the receptacle may be easily removed from one bag and inserted in another without danger of spilling any of its contents. I

The simplest manner of detachably connecting the receptacle from the bag is by making frames of such dimensions that they engage the bag at the juncture of the frames C and D with the flexible wall portion of the bag. Usually the frames C and D of the bag are connected in such manner with the flexible wall A that there is provided a space M between the flexible wall and the frames. This is best seen in Figure 1. This is true not only of the longitudinal members of the frame but also of the legs or side members. By inserting the frames of the receptacle in the space thus formed the receptacle may be held frictionally in the bag Without danger of any ubstantial slipping therefrom. There is thus formed a connection between the bag and the receptacle which will result in the opening and closing of the receptacle when the bag is opened and closed. By making the frames J, K of springy material such as spring steel the frame V may be bowed slightly by the hand in applying the receptacle and then released so that there is a snug frictional fit as above described.

The frames may be connected more positively with the bag by the provision of lugs N at the tops of the frame. These lugs project between the bag cover and its framework and may be held in position by any suitable catch member, such as the projections O which are turned down inwardly from the bag framework, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In order to facilitate the removal of the receptacle by springing out the frames thereof, a tab P or other handle portion may be provided on one or both of the lengthwise portions J of the frame. By pulling these tabs P downwardly and then inwardly of the bag the frames of the receptacle may be easily disconnected from the bag frames. In this operation the receptacle frames are pulled down from the spaces M and then bowed slightly inward, causing the lugs N to be removed from their engagingpositions with the catches O.

The receptacle may be made to fit bags of different shapes, since it is apparent that the receptacle and its frame may follow the contours of of any desired bag. Furthermore, a single receptacle may be made to fit in bags of different dimensions, but of like shape. In such cases the receptacle can be made of sufiicient fullness to accommodate itself reasonably well to the different dimensions. It is desirable that the framework of the several bags shall be substantially the same, in order that the frames of the receptacles may engage each bag frame in the same manner, although a single receptacle may sometimes fit bags of very different contour, if the fastening meanscoincide.

My invention provides a. means for lengthening and contracting the frames of the receptacle in such way that the receptacles may engage longer or shorter bags.

In Figure 4 I have shown one such construction. In this figure each frame is made in two parts, T and U, one of which parts is formed with a slot and the other of which carries a rivet or rivets designed to hold the two end parts in alignment. Sufiicient frictional grip may be thus attained between the two parts to hold the receptacle frame in its adjusted condition. With such a construction it is desirable that the material forming the pocket of the receptacle shall be shirred so as to permit the'lengthening of the frames.

In Figure '7 I have shown another form of adjustable frame, one part U being made tubular and the other part T being inserted Within it, a spring W being arranged to exert a very substantial outward thrust if desired, so that the frictional grip of the frames on the material of the bag will be sufiicient to secure the receptacle in place as shown as in Figure 8.

While I have shown and described several forms of the invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus various types of quick detachable fastening means, such as hooks, Zippers, and the like, may be employed and various shapes of bag and receptacle frames may be used. Other changes of similar character may also be made.

What I claim is:

1. A bag having a frame and outer flexible walls constituting a receptacle, and an inner receptacle having frame elements detachably engag ing the interior of the first mentioned frame and held thereby, characterized in that the frame elemeans of the inner receptacle are deformable longitudinally of the frame to disengage the first mentioned frame.

'2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein the frame elements of the inner receptacle longitudinally of the frame are resilient.

3. A bag having a frame and outer flexible walls consttiutlng a receptacle and an inner receptacle having frame elements detachably engaging the interior of the first mentioned frame and held thereby, characterized in that the frame elements of the inner receptacle are u shaped and the bar connecting the legs of the U is adapted to have its effective length varied.

4. A bag according to claim 3 wherein the '3 frame elements of the inner receptacle comprise complemental telescoping members.

5. A bag having an outer frame comprising a pair of articulated rigid frame members and permanent outer walls constituting a receptacle and an inner receptacle detachably connected to the outer receptacle within the latter, said inner receptacle having frames comprising telescoping members the effective length of which can be shortened and lengthened and a spring urging said telescoping members in a direction to lengthen the frame.

PHYLLIS CLENDENNY MYERS. 

